How to Protect Eye Health During the COVID-19?

As we all know, the transmission route of the new coronavirus is mainly spread by respiratory droplets and contact. In this process, the mouth, nose, hands, and eyes are the main vectors of virus transmission. How to prevent the virus from contacting these parts is the key to preventing new coronary pneumonia. For the nose and mouth, masks can effectively isolate the virus, but for the eyes, people do not know other protection details except for the use of goggles. Recently, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has put forward a recommendation: during the pneumonia epidemic, people with myopia should "abandon" contact lenses and wear more anti blue light glasses，multifocal prescription glasses and glass lens reading glasses to reduce the urge to touch their eyes and the possibility of contracting the virus.

The new coronavirus can be infected through the eyes

The American Academy of Ophthalmology pointed out that although the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that transmission through the eyes is not the main mode of transmission of the new coronavirus, it still needs attention. When a patient with new coronary pneumonia coughs or speaks, virus particles are sprayed from their mouth or nose and sprayed onto another person's face. These virus particles can enter the body not only through the mouth or nose, but also through the eyes. On the other hand, people's hands rub their eyes after touching objects with the new coronavirus, which can easily cause infection.

The best way to prevent transmission through the eyes is to wear multifocal prescription goggles or reading and folding spectacles. Anti glare blue light goggles are recommended in places where people are focused or where there is a high risk of virus transmission. In environments with low crowd density and good ventilation, it is not necessary to wear goggles. However, it is still prohibited to touch the mucosal tissues of the eyes, mouth, nose and other parts with hands or other items that may be contaminated. It should be noted that once the symptoms of conjunctivitis such as itchy eyes and red eyes appear, be vigilant, you must closely observe changes in the condition, and seek medical treatment in time.

People who wear contact lenses love to touch their eyes

Eyes are an important way to contract the new coronavirus, so it is especially important to reduce touching eyes. In life, people who wear contact lenses love to touch their eyes more than people who wear glasses or do not wear glasses. Therefore, changing the usual habit of wearing contact lenses may help prevent infection of the new coronavirus through the eyes. The spokesperson of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Sonal Tuli, suggested that if you rub your eyes frequently when wearing contact lenses, consider wearing more frame anti blue light reading glasses. This can reduce eye irritation and force you to stop before touching your eyes.

Wearing framed anti glare glasses can help protect yourself from respiratory droplets from an infected person. However, the American Ophthalmological Association warned that wearing frame progressive multifocal glasses is not guaranteed to be foolproof. If you want to take care of a patient with new coronary pneumonia, goggles are a better defense measure.

During the epidemic, I hope everyone will pay attention to personal hygiene and safety protection and get through the epidemic together.